BHB Releases 2012 Annual Report

Bermuda Hospitals Board today announces the publication of its 2012 Annual Report. The Report was delayed by a review, called for by the Auditor General in 2013, into the financial statements of 2011-12. An unqualified audit has been achieved for the year.

Peter Everson, Chairman of the Board, comments: “On behalf of the Board, I am pleased we have been able to complete our financial obligations for the 2011-12 fiscal year and publish the Annual Report. We have, as promised, included salary data in the Annual Report, although salary data from 2011-12 up to 2015-16 was publicly released earlier this year.

“2011-12 was a financially difficult year for BHB although much was achieved, including a successful accreditation, quality improvements and new specialties being offered. BHB was under the stewardship of a different CEO, Chairman and Board, and it was the first year that BHB felt the serious effects of Bermuda’s economic downturn.

“Efficiency measures prior to this year were being implemented as part of BHB’s preparation to meet the financial obligations of the new Acute Care Wing (ACW) once it was completed in 2014. The original plan was to pay for the new ACW through a 1% fee rise above inflation plus a 1% efficiency saving within BHB per year for a period of five years. The inflation plus 1% fee rises could not be met due to the economic climate, and the focus became on making savings so that we could meet our obligations without hurting the Bermuda economy.

“On top of a low fee rise in 2011-12, BHB had to manage a write off of Government debt of about $17 million and revenue restrictions imposed by memoranda of understanding with local insurers that lost us about $20 million in revenue. These were required restrictions due to the financial struggles of Bermuda, as they helped control escalating healthcare costs that no one on the island could afford.

“The story of how the previous and current boards began to turn the tide so that we could afford the ACW payments – as has been achieved in the fiscal year 2015-16 – will be covered in subsequent annual reports, although regular updates from BHB have described the budgetary constraints and Modernization Project, which saw a number of major efficiency projects completed.

“For 2011-12, we saw a slip from a surplus to a loss and the challenge became about continuing to improve quality while cutting costs.

“While we are obviously disappointed to be behind on our reporting, the delay was initially caused by a review of the 2011-12 financial statement. The Board made a summary of the Auditor General’s review of 2011-12 available in October 2013, and diligently implemented recommendations to strengthen due process and governance while finalising the auditing process. We are very pleased that our financial statements for this year are unqualified, and recognise that we must continue to maintain and improve our standards to ensure the next few years can be worked through as efficiently as possible so the audited financials can be presented to the public.”

Venetta Symonds, BHB CEO, comments: “I am very pleased to see this annual report released. It represents the first step towards getting all our financial reporting obligations up to date. Despite BHB feeling the harsh realities of the economic downturn, it was an important year where we achieved hospital-wide accreditation, made improvements to medication management, introduced cutting-edge screening for cervical cancer, and completed the ward renovation project in the General Wing. A new CT scanner went live, thanks to a generous donation from the Hospitals Auxiliary of Bermuda. Construction of the new Acute Care Wing continued, and work started in earnest to prepare for the safe transition of services once it was completed.

“The story of the year perhaps was the impact of the economy, but within BHB the story became about the heart and passion of our staff, who sought every way to cut costs while ensuring the services they provided kept pace with continually changing international quality and safety practices. Like an actual storm, BHB does not have the luxury of ceasing or restricting services no matter what the challenges, and our accreditation process requires us to continually improve. When people are hurt or unwell and need care, our doors must be open, and this remains our commitment to care for our community.”

Click here for the full 2012 Annual Report (PDF).

Former Emergency Department entrance closed Wednesday – Sunday

Bermuda Hospitals Board is advising the public that the old Emergency Department entrance of the General Wing will be closed today, Wednesday 6 July through to Sunday 10 July. The entrance will reopen on Monday 11 July at 6am.

Members of the public should use the main entrance of the General Wing (lobby entrance) to access the General Wing of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. The General Wing can also be accessed via the Acute Care Wing.

Clear signage has been be posted.

Bermuda Hospitals Board apologises for any inconvenience this may cause.

244 Pints Celebrated as Blood Donors Retire

Bermuda Hospitals Board today recognised six individuals who have collectively donated a total of 244 pints of blood, but who are now having to retire from donating.

Dr Eyitayo Fakunle, Consultant Haematologist, comments: “We want to thank six dedicated blood donors today who have collectively donated 244 pints of blood. People may not realise that there is a retirement age for blood donors, which means we lose valuable and dedicated donors every year. The people we are recognising today have come regularly over many years and even decades. They have saved so many lives, and made many more better as donations are used to help people manage conditions such as sickle cell anaemia and cancer, as well as life or death situations.

“We now need new donors to donate blood. Bermuda’s blood supplies are made up of 100% voluntary donations from residents. We do not import blood. The lives of all of us in Bermuda are in the hands of a very select group of about 1,000 giving, caring and dedicated donors. It is like a lake that we all rely on – if it is not replenished, our local blood supplies will dry up, putting us all at risk. As six individuals step down today, we need the next generation to put their hands up and share a gift only they can give. It may be your loved one, your friend or even you who needs blood next. It only takes about 30 minutes to donate, but those 30 minutes, for someone on our island, could mean the difference between life and death.”

The celebrated donors are:

• Michael Tucker: 30 donations over 11 years
• Virginia Olander: 21 donations over 8 years
• Edward Wicks: 15 donations over five years
• Alfred John Wright: 92 donations over 18 years
• Dr. James Burnett-Herkes: 50 donations over 33 years
• Veronica Chameau: 36 donations over 16 years

Pictured are (left to right): Lucy Correira, Blood Donor Nurse; Venetta Symonds, BHB CEO; Veronica Chameau, Retiring Blood Donor; Dr Clyde Wilson, Chief of Pathology; Alfred John Wright, Retiring Blood Donor; Dr Eyitayo Fakunle, Constultant Haematologist; and Kathy Stephens, Manager Pathology.

Link 1: Alfred John Wright Interview

Link 1: Veronica Chameau Interview

Bermuda Police Service Win Corporate Blood Drive 2016

Bermuda Hospitals Board (“BHB”) and the Ministry of Health and Seniors is pleased to announce today that the Bermuda Police Service, is the winner of the Corporate Blood Drive 2015/16. The announcement is being made today as it is World Blood Donor Day.

This is the third Corporate Blood Drive that has taken place, and the Bermuda Police Service has been awarded the revolving trophy and a certificate to thank them for their commitment to saving lives and caring for those with therapeutic transfusion needs, such as sickle cell and cancer patients.

This year there were fourteen contestants: AIG, Ariel Re, Aon Group (Bermuda), The Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Ltd., Butterfield & Vallis, Bermuda Government Department of Corrections, Bermuda Government Department of Accountant General, Bermuda Government -H. M. Customs, Bermuda Police Service, FIL Limited, Kitson Group of Companies, Validus Services, XL Catlin, and Zurich Bermuda

Minister of Health and Seniors, The Hon. Jeanne Atherden JP, MP, comments: “Bermuda relies 100% on local, voluntary donations so it is heartening to see our businesses supporting this competition. I hope more sign up next year. It helps build morale and camaraderie as employees donate, but more than that, it saves lives. Organisations can make a huge impact in the community, just by encouraging and supporting their employees’ decision to donate. I especially urge more people under the age of 25 to donate…it only takes half an hour but your donation can improve or save someone’s life.”

Dr. Clyde Wilson, BHB Chief of Pathology comments: “We would like to thank all the companies who were involved in the Corporate Blood Drive 2015/16. Their support and encouragement is so important. It could be any one of us whose life needs saving or healing. A complication in childbirth or surgery, an accident, or an illness such as cancer. There are so many people a blood donor helps and organisations who support their employee donors demonstrate great community commitment. It couldn’t be easier for company sign up for the 2016/17 competition – just call or email the Blood Donor Centre at blood.donor@bhb.bm or 236-5067 and we’ll send you the form.”

Superintendent James Howard, Bermuda Police Service, comments: “”We are very pleased to win the Corporate Blood Drive 2015/16 and proud of our staff and their families who put the lives of those in our community first by giving blood. The police see many of the victims of accidents and violence whose lives are eventually saved by blood transfusions as part of our work. But on any given day it could also be one of our family members, friends, colleagues or even ourselves who may need that life-saving transfusion. We were very proud and motivated to take part in the competition and we are encouraging other organizations to sign up next year to push it even higher.”

BHB releases salary data

Bermuda Hospitals Board today releases compensation data for its employees.

Chairman, Mr Peter Everson, comments: “According to the Bermuda Hospitals Act 1970, ‘the scales of salaries and wages paid to officers and servants of the Board’ should be released as part of our annual financial statements and, since 2013, it has been the publicly stated intent of the Board to publish compensation information in our annual reports. However, due to a delay in the audit process beyond the control of BHB, this information has not yet been released. While we expect the 2011/12 Annual Report to be published shortly, this still leaves us some years behind and so 2011/12 data no longer accurately reflects current salaries. This issue has been deliberated on by the Board and, in the interests of public accountability and transparency, we have decided that updated salary information for all completed fiscal years should be shared, although noting that after 2011/12 this information is unaudited. So that BHB is consistent with similar released information from other quangos, such as the Bermuda Monetary Authority and Bermuda Tourism Authority, we are including the CEO salary as part of this release of information. Going forward, employee compensation information will be released in this format with our audited financial statements.

“On reviewing this data, I am pleased to note a general trend downwards in the highest salary bands for Executives and Physicians, which reflects a fair and consistent approach to setting compensation. For physicians the reduction, in large part, related to implementing recommendations from the Towers Watson Physician Compensation review – the summary of which was released to the public in 2013, as well as certain physician specialties returning to private practice. In the Executive group, a leaner Executive Team has been established to streamline BHB from the very top. Over the last four years four senior positions have been made redundant. BHB’s employees on lower salaries have seen some increase. Members of the Board, meanwhile, are unpaid volunteers and receive a stipend for attending meetings at the rate set by the Government of $50 per meeting. They do not receive any benefits or other forms of compensation.”

Mr Everson concludes: “On behalf of the Board, I am certainly pleased that this information is now being shared. It must be remembered that BHB is a large and complex organisation, spending about $300 million a year in delivering acute medical and psychiatric services and a range of primary and secondary care services for the community, including learning disabled and long term care. While the focus on this data is very much about the cost of the workforce, I do not want to lose sight of the value of the people who work every day, day and night, to care for us when we are in need. I would like to thank them on behalf of the Board for their tireless commitment and caring for those in need.”

The following notes provide background to the figures:

• Total costs show the cost of positions to BHB and include salary, performance pay and housing allowance (where applicable), current year’s movement in leave pay provision, social insurance payments, pay roll tax and pension deductions.

• The top range total cost in the Executive group declined from $703,400 to $504,200 (down 28.3%) comparing 2011/12 to 2015/16 and the total cost of the CEO position has declined over the same period from $703,356 to $504,179 (down 28.3%).

• Over the same time span, the top range total cost for physicians has declined from $1,788,700 to $742,500 (down 58.5%).

• BHB’s total compensation costs have been listed in publicly released unaudited financial data since 2013. This figure includes the costs of casual and temporary staff, which is not reflected in figures released today. In 2015/16 unaudited financial, Total Salaries and Employee Benefits were $185 million, $3 million less than in 2011/12 when the figure was $188 million (a reduction of 1.6%).

• There has been a freeze on Executive salaries and there has been no performance-based pay since 2011/12. In the last independent review of Executive compensation in March 2014 by Sullivan and Cotter, BHB Executive salaries were below benchmarks (the benchmark uses US, Canada and the UK as references and aims for the 50th percentile).

• Perceived changes in the Executive group salary ranges in each fiscal year in the attached figures generally relate to changes in personnel or redundancies. The following list identifies positions where two or more people held a position over the 2011/12 to 2014/15 time period, and/or whether a position was added or made redundant during that time:
o CEO (2)
o Chief of Staff (3)
o CFO (2)
o Chief of HR (2 – position made redundant in 2014/15)
o Chief Information Officer (position made redundant in 2014/15)
o Chief Performance Officer (position added then made redundant in 2012/13)
o General Counsel (position added in 2011/12)

• From time to time during the period under review certain positions have been held where the contract is not with a BHB employed individual, but with a company. Positions impacted over the time period 2011/12 to 2015/16 include the Chief of HR, Chief of Staff, Chief Performance Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The costs of these contracts are included in the total cost data.

Attachment 1: Download full media release and salary data

REMINDER: Agape House temporarily moved to Curtis Ward

Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) would like to remind the public that Agape House has been temporarily relocated to Curtis Ward which is on the 3rd floor in the General Wing at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.
The move was necessary to allow renovations to the Agape House building. Workmen on the site report a number of people continue to come to the building looking for loved ones.
BHB also reports that the Agape House upgrade works are progressing well. The contractor is in the second week of the 12-week construction schedule.
“We anticipate staff and residents will relocate to Agape House in mid-July,” said BHB Director of Facilities Management and Engineering Services, Marshall Minors.

Being Alive – Artwork and poetry competition deadline approaching

There is still time to get your poetry and /or artwork entries in for the Being Alive competition celebrating the 25th anniversary of Agape House. Bermuda Hospitals Board and Friends of Hospice, the charity that supports Agape House urge you to exercise and share your artistic talents with the public in recognizing the importance and service provided by our only palliative care hospice – Agape House.

Friends of Hospice Executive Director Cathy Belvedere said: “We want to showcase Bermuda’s artistic side and invite you to submit artwork or poetry or both, on the theme Being Alive. We’ve not seen a lot of entries in the art category but poets have responded. Still we’re hoping to get a lot more.

At Agape House every patient is treated with the utmost respect and encouraged to live life to the fullest. Staff are inspired, and try in turn to inspire patients, to follow the ideal of Dame Cecily Saunders, founder of the modern hospice movement who said: ““You matter because you are you, and you matter to the last moment of your life.”
Photographs, paintings, drawings or other media are all welcome.

How to enter

1. Fill out an entry form: Entry forms are available online at www.bdahospitaldev.wpengine.com , King Edward VII Memorial Hospital main reception desks in the Acute Care Wing and General Wing, the main reception at Mid Atlantic Wellness Institute and Ground Floor Craig Appin House on Wesley Street in Hamilton. Entry forms are also available at Bermuda Arts Centre at Dockyard, Bermuda National Gallery, Bermuda Society of Arts, DNA Creative and Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art.

2. Submit your entry: Artwork entries can be submitted at the Bermuda Hospitals Board reception desk on the ground floor at Craig Appin House. Submissions must be in by Monday 23 May 2016. Winners will be announced at a date to be set in June. Winning entries will be hung in the newly renovated Agape House building.
Poetry entries can be emailed to info@bhb.bm by Monday 23 May 2016.

Email info@bhb.bm with any queries.

Teen suicide public debate

May is Child Depression Awareness Month

Did you know that the teen suicide rate in Bermuda is much lower than the average in countries like the US, Canada and Britain? In fact Bermuda Hospitals Board Child and Adolescent Services Department (CAS) do not have a single child suicide in its statistics over the past twenty years.

“There have been attempted suicides,” said Department head Dr Sharon Apopa, “but we don’t have a record of any completed attempts.”
It is on this backdrop that CAS invited the Dynamic Debaters & Learners team to discuss the matter.

“Six students from various schools on the island will debate whether the low rate is due to something unique in our Bermuda culture or if it is because helping services like CAS identify at risk students early and intervene,” said CAS Occupational Therapist and Child Depression Awareness Month organiser, Moffat Makomo.

May is Child Depression Awareness month and the free public debate is one of three activities CAS has organized for community participation.
The debate will take place on Monday 9 May from 12:30 – 1:30pm in the 1st Floor Conference Room at the Mid Atlantic Wellness Institute.
“It is free and the public is invited,” said Mr Makomo, “I would encourage folk to arrive early as seating will be available on a first come first served basis,” he added.

Messages to children and teens

On Friday 6 May, the CAS team will be on the ground floor of the Washington Mall asking the public to write messages of encouragement for local children battling clinical depression.

“Staff will be on hand to share information about child depression, the signs, symptoms, services we offer to help and how to contact us,” said Mr Makomo. “We will also ask folk to write a note or thought that they think will be comforting and help our children overcome their difficulties with depression. We will take these messages back to our facility and display them for our clients to see. The messages will act like notes in a large greeting card from the country to our children managing their depression,” he said.

“In 2015 CAS received 387 referrals, 202 were accepted for service and of those 20 were diagnosed as having depression,” said Dr Apopa. “That’s almost ten percent of the clients we see.”

Middle school poster competition

Students at Dellwood and Whitney Middle Schools are designing posters on child awareness about depression. Their creations will be on display at a private event for them and their parents on Thursday 19 May.

“The competition helps acquaint teens with information on depression including risk factors, symptoms and where to go for help,” said Mr Makomo.

If you suspect your child is depressed or have any questions on depression in children and teens please contact Child and Adolescent Services on 239-6344. The 24-hour emergency help line is 236-3770.

Dr Keith Chiappa Appointed as Chief of Staff

Bermuda Hospitals Board today announces the appointment of Dr Keith Chiappa as Chief of Staff while recruitment for a permanent appointment is completed. He takes over from Dr Michael Weitekamp, who stepping down from the Chief of Staff role after completing his three year contract. Dr. Chiappa will maintain his Consultant Neurologist duties.

The Chief of Staff is the most senior physician position at BHB and is responsible for clinical care and quality at the hospitals. Reporting through to both the CEO and the Board, the position is appointed through a legislative process that requires the approval of the Minister responsible for health. All BHB medical chiefs and the Vice President of Quality & Risk report to this position.

Born in Bermuda and educated here to age 17, Dr. Chiappa was appointed as BHB’s Chief of Medicine and Consultant Neurologist in 2008, after a highly distinguished career at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he worked from 1976 to 2011. He held increasing senior positions at Mass General, his last positions being director of units of the Clinical Neurophysiology Laboratory, and Associate Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School. He also served on Harvard Medical School committees for scientific review of research proposals and continuing medical education.

Educated at Harvard and Oxford Universities , Dr. Chiappa undertook his post-doctoral training at Boston City Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, with a research fellowship at the University of California at San Diego.

Venetta Symonds, Chief Executive Officer, comments: “I would first like to thank Dr. Weitekamp for his dedicated and exemplary service to BHB and Bermuda. He has been a wise and guiding presence and set ambitious goals that relate to clinical care and quality, which he has worked hard to achieve. As Chief of Medicine, Dr. Chiappa worked with Dr. Arlene Basden, Director of the Hospitalist Service, to upgrade that service, including 24 hour hospital coverage, improved emergency department admission coverage, and its communications with patients and the community physicians, most recently by providing patients with day of discharge summaries of their inpatient care which are also sent electronically to their community physicians. As neurologist, he has worked steadily to improve the care of stroke patients at BHB, including the use of emergency clot-busting therapies. We are very fortunate that Dr. Chiappa has agreed to take on this role as we complete an extensive recruitment process in the coming months for a permanent appointment. Dr. Chiappa´s extensive leadership and medical experience will help us keep momentum going so that we can ultimately meet our vision of ‘Exceptional Care. Strong Partnerships. Healthy Community.’”

Dr. Chiappa comments: “I’m looking forward to working with the Medical Chiefs, the physicians at BHB, the community physicians and the Ministry of Health to continue the work of improving the quality of clinical care in Bermuda. I am very pleased to be able to assist BHB at this time and work with my colleagues to ensure we continue to make progress to improve standards of governance and medical practice.”

A co-founder of the electronic Journal of Contemporary Neurology, Dr. Chiappa was Editor of the publication from 1995 to 2004. He was aslo Co-Editor of UpToDate in Neurology from 1995 to 1997.

Alongside many research papers, Dr Chiappa also authored and co-authored numerous books and monographs, and lectured extensively internationally.

Bermuda Organ Donor Association and Bermuda Hospitals Board celebrate Donate Life Week

Focusing Bermuda’s attention on organ donation and having everyone consider becoming a donor is the aim of the Bermuda Organ Donor Association and Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) in Organ Donation Awareness Week. This year the campaign will run from Monday 25 April to Friday 29 April.

“Have the Conversation” is the theme this year and it refers to the need for those who want to have their organs donated, to discuss their desire with their loved ones. Unlike the US where you can simply register to have your organs donated in the event you die, in Bermuda it is the next of kin who decide. That’s why the Bermuda Organ Donation Association is stressing the importance of letting your friends and family know what you want. In many cases next of kin do try to honour the wishes of the deceased.

Representatives from the New England Donor Bank, BHB’s partner for organ donations, will be on island during the week giving lectures and training to health workers. They will also be on hand to meet the public at health screenings and a panel discussion. On Tuesday afternoon they will raise the Donate Life flag, a symbol of the organization, at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

The public are invited to attend any or all of the three public awareness events that will take place during the week. Free health screenings will be offered on Monday 25 April from 10am- 1pm at the Washington Mall lower level next to the food court and on Tuesday 26 April from 10- noon at the Transport Control Department on Parson’s Road.

There will also be a free panel discussion on the theme “Have the Conversation”. Representatives from the New England Donor Bank and the Bermuda Organ Donor Association will share the basic information on what organ donation entails and what you need to do if you want to donate. The informative session will take place on Tuesday 26 April from 6pm -8pm at the Mariner’s Club in Hamilton.

In the US the number of people in need of transplants outpaces the number of donor organs. According to New England Donor Bank in the US about 22 people die each day because the organs they need are not donated in time. Talking to your family about your decision to become a donor is the most effective way to ensure you can save lives through donation and serves as sign of hope to those like who continue to wait.

To register as a donor or for more information about how to get involved, please visit www.DonateLifeNewEngland.org.